Child hair protection system

ABSTRACT

A child hair protective system including a covering including a front portion; a rear portion coupled to the front portion; a side portion extending from at least one of the front portion and the rear portion; a cavity defined within the covering; and a strap portion extending from each side portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application60/955,994, filed Aug. 15, 2007 and entitled CHILD HAIR PROTECTIONSYSTEM, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to head and hair coverings andmore specifically, to a child hair protection system for covering achild's hair during generally messy activities such as self-feeding andplay-time.

During activities, such as self-feeding and play-time, a small childgenerally uses their hands and fingers to engage in such activities. Inone known example, a small child uses their hand and fingers when theyare feeding themselves food. In another known example, a child usestheir hands and fingers to paint and color during play-time. As aresult, the child's hands and fingers accumulate substances, such asfood, paint and/or other substances thereon. In the event the childtouches their head and hair, the substance is transferred from thechild's hands to the child's hair. Generally, this requires the parentor guardian to clean the child's hair. Such a process lengthens theamount of time required for feeding or playing. As a result, the timeand energy required to feed the child or allow the child to engage inplayful activities is increased, which decreases the amount of timeavailable to the parent or guardian for other activities.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, a child hair protective system is provided.The system may include a covering including a front portion; a rearportion coupled to the front portion; a side portion extending from atleast one of the front portion and the rear portion; a cavity definedwithin the covering; and a strap portion extending from each sideportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. Thefollowing detailed description should be considered in conjunction withthe accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a child hair protective system;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a covering that may be used with thesystem shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of thecovering that may be used with the system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the followingdescription and related figures directed to specific embodiments of theinvention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternateembodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or thescope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplaryembodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will beomitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are notlimiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood thatthe described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms“embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do notrequire that all embodiments of the invention include the discussedfeature, advantage or mode of operation.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a child hair protective system 10.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a covering 12. FIG. 3 is across-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of covering 12. FIG. 4is a front perspective view of system 10. In the exemplary embodiment,system 10 includes covering 12, which may include a front portion 14, arear portion 16, an upper portion 18, a first side portion 20 and asecond side portion 22. In one embodiment, front, rear, upper and sideportions 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be integrally formed to definecovering 12. In another embodiment, front, rear, upper and side portions14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be individually formed and coupled to oneanother to form covering 12. In the exemplary embodiment, a first strapportion 24 and a second strap portion 26 may extend from first andsecond side portions 20 and 22, respectively. In one embodiment, firstand second strap portions 24 and 26 may be elongated and may extend awayfrom first and second side portions 20 and 22, respectively. As aresult, first and second strap portions 24 and 26 may extend such thatthey are positioned under a child's chin, as described in more detailbelow.

In the exemplary embodiment, a fastener 28 may be coupled to each end offirst and second strap portions 24 and 26 to facilitate coupling firstand second strap portions 24 and 26 together. In one embodiment,fastener 28 may include, but not limited to, a snap-type fastener, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a fastener 42 may include ahook and loop attachment. Alternatively, covering 12 may includefasteners such as, but not limited to, tie straps, buttons and/or anyother type of coupling device that enables covering 12 to function asdescribed herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, a cavity 30 may be defined within covering12. Moreover, cavity 30 facilitates receiving a child's head therein, asdescribed in more detail below. Covering 12 may also include a firstopening 32 defined by front portion 14, first and second side portions20 and 22 and first and second strap portions 24 and 26. Covering 12 mayalso include a second opening 34 defined by rear portion 16 and firstand second strap portions 24 and 26. An outer edge material 36 may becoupled to covering 12 and may surround first and second openings 32 and34. In one embodiment, outer edge material 36 may include, but notlimited to, a resilient material and may extend along an edge ofcovering 12 and more specifically, the outer edge of first and secondopenings 32 and 34. In another embodiment, outer edge material may bemade of stretchable material.

In the exemplary embodiment, covering 12 may also include an innermaterial 38 and an outer coating 40. In the one embodiment, innermaterial 38 may include, but not limited to, a comfortable and softmaterial that is oriented within covering 12, and more specificallywithin cavity 30, to facilitate surrounding a child's head, as describedin more detail below. In another embodiment, inner material 38 mayinclude, but not limited to, cotton, terry cotton, polyester, polyesterknit, nylon and/or other soft fabrics. In yet another embodiment, innermaterial 38 may be made from a washable material.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, outer coating 40 may be made of awaterproof material such as, but not limited to, urethane and/or alaminate coating that enables outer coating 40 to be wiped clean afteruse and resistant to liquid. Moreover, in one embodiment, outer coating40 may be made of a material that is substantially similar to thematerial of outer material of baby bibs. In the exemplary embodiment,outer coating 40 may cover an outer surface (not shown) of innermaterial 38 to facilitate preventing food and other substances fromcoupling to inner material 38, and more specifically, a child's headand/or hair.

In the exemplary embodiment, covering 12 may be made of material thatmay be, but not limited to, breathable, waterproof, and/or stretchable.Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, covering 12 may be resilient totearing and/or deformations, such as but not limited to stretching. Inanother embodiment, covering 12 may be disposable.

In the exemplary embodiment, inner material 38 may be integrally formedwith outer coating 40. As a result, inner material 38 and outer coating40 may include, but not limited to, cotton, terry cotton, polyester,polyester knit, nylon and/or other soft fabrics. As such, inner material38 and outer coating 40 may include a single material that includes awaterproof barrier coupled to the outer surface of inner material 38. Inanother embodiment, inner material 38 and outer coating 40 may includevarious other types of materials, such as, but not limited to,GORE-TEX®, vinyl, laminate material and/or other various types ofdurable water-repellent material. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment,laminate material may include, but not limited to, polyester urethanelaminate material, urethane laminate material, and/or any other type oflaminate material that enables system 10 to function as describedherein.

During operation, covering 12 may be coupled to a child's head tofacilitate covering the child's hair prior to the child engaging inmessy activities, such as, but not limited to, meal-time and play-time.Specifically, covering 12 is oriented on the child's head such thatinner material 38 is in contact with the child's hair and/or head. Upperportion 18 facilitates covering a top part of the child's head and rearportion 16 facilitates covering a back portion of the child's head.Moreover, front portion 14 facilitates covering the child's forehead andfirst and second side portions 20 and 22 facilitate covering the child'sears and sides of face. First and second strap portions 24 and 26 mayextend substantially parallel to the child's jaw such that first andsecond strap portions 24 and 26 are coupled together under the child'schin using fastener 28. As a result, the child's face may extend throughfirst opening 32 and the child's neck may extend through second opening34.

Covering 12 facilitates preventing food and other substances fromcoupling to a child's hair and/or sides of face. In the event the childhas food and/or other substances on their hands and touches their head,the food and/or other substances will couple to outer coating 40 ofcovering 12. Moreover, covering 12 facilitates preventing any liquidfrom contacting the child's hair.

Once the child is finished eating and/or playing, covering 12 may beremoved from the child's head. Specifically, fasteners 28 may beuncoupled to facilitate uncoupling first and second strap portions 24and 26. Then covering 12 may be removed from the child's head. In oneembodiment, covering 12 may be wiped clean such that covering 12 isready for another use. In another embodiment, covering 12 may be washedin a washing machine such that covering 12 is ready for another use. Inyet another embodiment, covering 12 may be disposable.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate theprinciples, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should beappreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

1. A child hair protective system comprising: a covering comprising: afront portion; a rear portion coupled to said front portion; a sideportion extending from at least one of said front portion and said rearportion; a cavity defined within said covering; and a strap portionextending from each side portion.
 2. A child hair protection system inaccordance with claim 1 further comprising an outer coating comprisingat least one of urethane material, GORE-TEX, vinyl, laminate material,polyester urethane laminate material and urethane laminate material. 3.A child hair protection system in accordance with claim 1 furthercomprising an outer coating and an inner material, said outer coating isintegrally formed with said inner material.
 4. A child hair protectionsystem in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an inner materialcomprising at least one of cotton, terry cotton, polyester, polyesterknit and nylon.
 5. A child hair protection system in accordance withclaim 1 further comprising a first opening defined by said front portionand said side portions.
 6. A child hair protection system in accordancewith claim 5 further comprising an outer edge material coupled to saidcovering such that said outer edge material extends along an edge thatdefines said first opening.
 7. A child hair protection system inaccordance with claim 1 further comprising a second opening defined bysaid rear portion and said strap portions.
 8. A child hair protectionsystem in accordance with claim 7 further comprising an outer edgematerial coupled to said covering such that said outer edge materialextends along an edge that defines said second opening.
 9. A child hairprotection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising afastener coupled to an end of each strap portion.
 10. A child hairprotection system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fastenerfurther comprises hook and loop attachments coupled to said strapportions.
 11. A child hair protection system in accordance with claim 9,wherein said fastener further comprises a snap fastener coupled to saidstrap portions.
 12. A child hair protection system in accordance withclaim 9, wherein said fastener further comprises a plurality of tiestraps coupled to said strap portions.
 13. A child hair protectionsystem in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fastener furthercomprises a button and hole fastener coupled to said strap portions. 14.A child hair protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidcovering is disposable.
 15. A child hair protection system in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said covering is washable.
 16. A child hairprotection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said covering isbreathable.
 17. A child hair protection system in accordance with claim1, wherein said covering is waterproof.
 18. A child hair protectionsystem in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an outer edgematerial that is stretchable.
 19. A child hair protection system inaccordance with claim 1 further comprising an outer edge material thatis resilient.